Massachusetts Woman Finds Out She's in Labor After Going to Hospital for Abdominal Pain

A Massachusetts woman was stunned to find out she was expecting a child, just about an hour before she gave birth.

Judy Brown, 47, went to Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts, with severe abdominal pain, according to a hospital spokesman. While she initially thought the pain might have been caused by a blockage or gall stone, medical staff quickly figured out she was actually in labor.

"It was a little bit scary getting into the hospital thinking something was really bad was going on," Brown told ABC News. "To understand and take in that was I pregnant and was about to go into labor … it was very overwhelming."

Brown, joined by her husband of 22 years, Jason Brown, then gave birth to a healthy 8-pound, 2-ounce daughter about an hour later.

The parents named her Carolyn Rose after both of their mothers, and baby and mom are doing well, according to a hospital spokesman.

At this stage in her life, Brown said, it hadn’t occurred to her that she might be pregnant even though her body was going through changes.

"After being married for 22 years, it really wasn’t coming up being pregnant," she said. "It was not really there in my mind."

The couple is expected to check out of the hospital today, but had to borrow some key baby items like a car seat and bassinet just to leave the hospital. But the delivery has been a welcome surprise for the couple, who have no other children.

Dr. Kimberly Gecsi, an obstetrician and gynecologist at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, said while rare, some women do not realize they're pregnant until shortly before giving birth.

"People don’t know sometimes or they’re in denial about it and denial can be pretty strong," Gecsi said.

Gecsi said women even in their late-40s should not think they can't get pregnant and use contraception until they talk to their doctor about stopping because of menopause.

"Most physicians who see women in their 40s should be counseling them on [contraception,]" she said.